HURRICANE Lane is tracking a new path across the Pacific Ocean as it continues to move ever closer to the island of Hawaii.

Hurricane Lane is now tracking West, with winds reaching up to 130mph. It has maintained its strength as a category 4 hurricane overnight, but wind shear from the North is expected to weaken the hurricane as it approaches Hawaii.

Reporters on KHON2 News warned islanders that the Hawaii hurricane would come “uncomfortably close” to the island state, after previously warning that a “direct impact” should not be ruled out.

Forecaster Justin Cruz told viewers of KHON2 News: “The hurricane is currently located as around 500 miles east of Hilo.

“It’s still a strong and healthy system, the eye of the hurricane has cleared out and filled in throughout the day.

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“Earlier today Hurricane Lane strengthened, but gradual weakening is expected due to increasing wind shear near the islands.”

Hurricane Lane could weaken as it approached the island, meaning that islanders could experience tropical storm force winds, just escaping the full force of the hurricane which is still 500 miles out in the Pacific Ocean.

He said: “This is key, and it’s the biggest factor that could weaken Lane as it approaches the state.

“When we have strong upper level winds that move in the opposite direction of the surface winds, that can shear a hurricane apart, but the shear won’t really happen until 48 hours from now.

Hurricane Lane PATH: The hurricane is expected to track Westwards over the next 48 hours. (Image: KHON2 News)

“Until then, we’re still looking at a very healthy Hurricane Lane as it retracks westward for the next 48 hours.

He continued: “It has more of a Westerly track over the next two days, but after the next two days its forecast to start to curve towards the North West.

“It’s still very close to the island and uncomfortably close.

“Winds extend out about 125 miles per hour and those hurricane force winds are about 30 miles from the centre of the system.

Forecasters had believed the storm would track south of the Hawaiian Islands, based on initial projections.

But in the latest update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, forecasters said the storm has changed path and the track shows Hurricane Lane travelling closer to the western islands.

Forecasters said: “Latest forecast models indicate that, regardless of the eventual track and intensity of Lane, an extremely moist air mass will move over the islands beginning around Wednesday, and then persist through the end of the week.

“This is expected to result in very heavy rainfall, potentially leading to flash flooding.”

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said: “It can become dangerous for ocean vessels south of the islands as well as small craft attempting to navigate the inter-island channels this week.”

Last night, the National Weather Service said: “Due to the large uncertainty in the future track and intensity of Lane, all interests in the Hawaiian islands should continue to monitor the future progress of this system. Based on the latest trends in the forecast, direct impacts on the islands cannot be ruled out."